Estonia for increasing pressure on Myanmar to take back Rohingyas

Business Desk

Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser yesterday called for increasing political pressure on the Myanmar government to back their nationals from Bangladesh as he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"The repatriation of the Rohingya people in their homeland of Rakhaine state will have to be made with safety and security," PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim quoted him as saying while briefing reporters after the meeting held at the premier's Jatiya Sangsad Office here this evening.

Mentioning that exodus of 1.1 million Rohingyas is a huge burden for Bangladesh, the premier said: "We've given shelter to them on humanitarian grounds."

"Myanmar our neighboring country and we've started talks with them to solve the problem … they have agreed to take back their forcibly displaced nationals, but don't act accordingly," she said.

The prime minister sought investment from Estonia for mutual benefits of the two countries and mentioned that the government is setting up 100 special economic zones.

"We seek investment in these zones as those have huge opportunities and prospects," she said. "Besides, there're many areas we can explore," she added.

Sheikh Hasina said there are many challenges like shortage of land, booming population, climate change and natural disasters before Bangladesh. "We're advancing facing these challenges," she said.